On Thursday, May 23, 2024, the BART Board of Directors appointed Melissa Hernandez to the seat representing District 5. District 5 lies in Alameda County and its boundaries currently include the cities/regions of Castro Valley, Cherryland, Dublin, Fairview, Hayward, Livermore, Pleasanton, and Sunol.
For the last eight years, Hernandez has served as a Dublin councilmember and is currently the city’s mayor. She has chaired three regional transit boards: the Livermore-Amador Valley Transit Authority (LAVTA), Tri Valley/San Joaquin Valley Regional Transportation Authority (Valley Link) and the Finance committee of the Alameda County Transportation Commission.
“My vision is to keep public transportation working for everyone – and to keep BART reliable, affordable, and safe for everyone who rides,” said Hernandez, “By fostering dialogue with my colleagues, partnerships with state and Federal agencies and leaders, and championing equitable policies, I will strive to create a more inclusive and accessible transportation system that benefits everyone.”
“Melissa Hernandez is going to be able to walk into many of the rooms that we need to have leadership and representation, whether that’s in Sacramento or with the San Jose Extension,” said BART Board President Bevan Dufty. “Melissa has a tremendous set of experiences and is well known. Former Director John McPartland has been supportive of Melissa’s candidacy and that heartens me as well.”
The BART Board of Directors is comprised of nine elected officials from the nine BART districts. The District 5 seat became vacant on March 28, 2024, when John McPartland announced his immediate resignation from the BART Board. McPartland cited family matters as his reason for needing to step down. His current term was through December 6, 2024.
Hernandez and two other individuals who submitted applications were interviewed by the Board at their May 9, 2024 regular meeting.
Hernandez will serve as the District 5 representative through the unexpired portion of the current term. If Hernandez wishes to continue serving on the Board of Directors after the current term expires, she will need to run for election to the seat in the general election to be held in November 2024.
April 12 – BART Board Accepting Applications to Fill District 5 Vacancy
